Director Returns to Playhouse for ‘Beautiful’ Homecoming
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – John Holt was known for the high-quality musicals he directed at The Youngstown Playhouse in the 2000s.
So when the theater found itself in need of a replacement director for “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” – its biggest production in years – it turned to him.
The Playhouse this weekend will present the Mahoning Valley premiere of the musical, which details the life of pop music legend Carole King.
Michael J. Moritz Jr., the Broadway producer and Youngstown native who got his start as music director of the Playhouse, has returned to spearhead the production. He is also serving as music director.
Moritz was a producer of “Beautiful” on Broadway and is promising a Broadway-caliber show in Youngstown. The musical will serve as the start to the Playhouse’s 100th anniversary season.
Matthew Mazuroski had originally been hired to direct “Beautiful” but had to bow out in the spring because of health problems.
To replace him, Playhouse board chairman John Cox and Moritz wanted someone who could step in without missing a beat.
Holt, who was the managing director of the Playhouse in the 2000s, was the obvious choice.
“[Moritz] and I knew we needed an established director of large musicals,” Cox said. “Due to his relationship with [Moritz] from the old days, we reached out [to Holt]. It’s been a smooth ride. Holt knows how to handle the chaos very well. It feels good to have him back for the 100th season as well.”
Holt, who lives near Lynchburg, Va., signed on for the job in early June and began working on “Beautiful” in July.
The musical has a cast of 27, with Brooke May of Austintown, a 19-year-old theater major at Youngstown State University, in the title role.
Sam Early plays Gerry Goffin, who co-wrote songs with King and was married to her for a while.
The cast also includes Brianna Rae Quinn, Connor Bezeredi, John Cox, Maureen Collins, Reia Frost, Mikayla Moore, Nikita Jones, Arielle Green, Lee Edwards, James Major BGurns, Joshua Green, Christian Hall, Shawn Lockaton, Khaled Tabbara, Carla Gipson, Finlay Andrei, Candace DiLullo and Tommy DeLuca. The ensemble includes Natalie Kovacs, Elizabeth Huff, Frank Carsone, Ryan Bedi, Jill Cataldi and Megan Keown.
The featured dancers are Megan Cleland, Rachael Cleland and Gia Ramsey-Moritz.
The Playhouse has rented a professional set for “Beautiful” that will set the tone.
“It’s not like your normal type of musical production set,” Holt said. “It’s mostly used for ambience and atmosphere. It has a lot of lights.”
Though he has not seen the Broadway or touring production of “Beautiful,” Holt said he’s very familiar with King’s music. “I still have her ‘Tapestry’ album,” he said.
“Beautiful” tells the story of the early life of King and includes many of her songs.
The number of hit songs that King wrote that became hits for other artists is stunning. The list includes “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Up on the Roof,” “The Loco-Motion,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “One Fine Day,” “Go Away Little Girl” and “Crying in the Rain.”
Holt said it is eye-opening for audiences.
“You say Carole King, and everyone’s heard the name,” he said. “But what the average person doesn’t know is the scope of her influence, the number of songs she wrote, or had a hand in writing for other artists, in the early part of her career. The Shirelles, The Drifters … so much of their music was hers.”
The pop music industry was different when King broke into the business as a teenager.
“How it worked back then was, writers worked in a business environment,” Holt said, writing songs in an office that would then be offered to musical artists. “Slowly, the industry changed, and she changed along with it,” he said.
Holt has cut back on his theater work in recent years. “I used to direct two or three musicals a year [in Virginia],” he said.
His main duty now is helming an annual outdoor production of “1776” at Poplar Forest, a historical attraction in Lynchburg, Va., that once was the second home of Thomas Jefferson.
“Beautiful” has been a homecoming for Moritz as well. He will lead the band, which will be on stage during performances.
The New York resident arrived in Youngstown last week and immediately headed to Powers Auditorium for rehearsals.
Moritz brought with him the original production’s technical equipment to ensure the highest quality sound and lighting.
“To come home and do this show is super special because of my connection to it on Broadway,” he said. “It’s one of the first shows I produced and the first one that was very successful.”
It has also led to a lot of reminiscing. “I’m seeing a lot of people that I used to do theater with here,” Moritz said.
“Beautiful” was nominated for seven Tony Awards in 2014 and won two.
The Playhouse production of “Beautiful” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, at Powers Auditorium. For tickets to the show, and the post-show meet and greet after each performance, go to experienceyourarts.org.
Pictured at top: Michael J. Moritz Jr. and John Holt on the set of “Beautiful.”
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
